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FIELD  COLUMBIAN  MUSEUM 
PUBLICATION  31. 


ZOOLOGICAL  SERIES. 


VOL.  I,  No.   12, 


NOTES    ON    A    COLLECTION 

OF    COLD-BLOODED 

VERTEBRATES 


FROM    THE 


OLYMPIC   MOUNTAINS 


BY 


S.  E.  MEEK, 

ASSISTANT    CURATOR    OF    DEPARTMENT. 

D.  G.  ELLIOT, 

CURATOR    OF    DEPARTMENT. 


CHICAGO,  U.  S.  A. 

February,  1899. 


NOTES  ON  A  COLLECTION  OF  COLD-BLOODED  VERTEBRATES 
FROM  THE  OLYMPIC  MOUNTAINS. 

BY 

S.  E.  MEEK,  PH.D. 


The  collecting  of  Cold-blooded  Vetebrates  by  the  Museum's 
expedition  to  the  Olympic  Mountains,  in  1898,  was  merely  an 
incidental  feature  of  the  work  of  the  party.  All  of  the  speci- 
mens, except  the  trout,  were  picked  up  from  time  to  time  by  the 
party  where  it  happened  to  be.  The  few  days  spent  by  Professor 
Elliot  on  Lake  Crescent  and  Lake  Southerland  resulted  in  bring- 
ing to  the  Museum,  in  fine  condition,  an  excellent  series  of  trout 
from  these  lakes.  In  addition  to  the  aid  he  has  kindly  given  the 
writer  in  the  preparation  of  this  paper,  Professor  Elliot  has 
added  many  valuable  notes  and  field  observations. 


PISCES. 
Salmo  gardneri  beardsleei     Jordan  &  Scale. 

Blue  Back  Trout  of  Lake  Crescent.     Three  specimens. 


Cat.  No. 

Length. 

Head. 

Depth. 

Eye. 

Snout. 

Maxillary 

Scales. 

Weight. 

2032  .... 

IQ-75 

4.OO 

4.66 

6.0O 

4-50 

2.OO 

132 

*A 

2033  .... 

21.40 

3-70 

4-45 

7.25 

3-50 

1.82 

I65 

3 

2030  

28.*65 

3-3° 

3.66 

8-33 

3.10 

1.63 

130 

13 

Our  specimens,  Nos.  2032  and  2030,  agree  well  in  all  respects 
with  the  description  as  given  by  Jordan  &  Evermann.  The 
other  specimen  has  more  scales  in  the  lateral  line.  The  anal  fin 

225 


226  FIELD  COLUMBIAN  MUSEUM — ZOOLOGY,   VOL.   i. 

and  first  ray  of  pectoral  fin  in  the  largest  specimen  have  a  few 
black  spots.  Some  of  the  scales  below  lateral  line  on  middle 
and  anterior  part  of  the  body  each  with  a  small  black  spot  at 
lower  part  of  base.  The  maxillary  curves  rather  abruptly  down- 
ward below  the  eye.  Gill  rakers  very  much  longer  than  in  the 
following  species. 

"  This  is  a  magnificent  fish,  and  specimens  have  been  taken 
(alas,  in  the  spring  and  on  their  spawning  beds  with  the  spear  !) 
weighing  twenty-one  pounds,  and  seventeen-pounders  have  been 
captured  on  a  spoon  hook.  It  will  take  the  fly  in  the  spring,  I 
was  told,  but  at  other  times  of  the  year  trolling  a  large  spoon  at 
a  depth  of  fifty  feet  or  more  is  necessary.  The  largest  killed 
weighed  thirteen  pounds.  The  water  of  Lake  Crescent  is  per- 
iectly  clear,  and  after  a  considerable  struggle  with  my  captive  I 
brought  the  fish  within  ten  feet  of  the  boat  and  about  six  from 
the  surface.  As  it  tugged  at  the  line  with  its  side  toward  me 
and  the  fins  spread  out  to  the  utmost,  every  scale  almost  was 
distinctly  visible,  and  the  glistening  silvery  side,  contrasting 
strongly  with  the  beautiful  deep  blue  of  the  head  and  back, 
caused  it  to  present  one  of  the  handsomest  objects  I  had  ever 
witnessed  in  angling.  Its  rushes  were  tremendous,  and  made 
the  line  pass  through  the  fingers  with  such  velocity  as  to  cause  it 
to  burn  the  flesh.  Dr.  Jordan,  in  his  description  of  this  species, 
.gives  the  color  above  'dark  green,'  misled,  probably,  by  his  alco- 
holic specimens.  The  color  above  is,  as  I  have  already  stated,  a 
dark,  rich,  ultramarine  blue,  and  this  gives  to  the  fish  its  trivial 
name  of  'Blue  Back.1  This  species  is  a  dweller  of  deep  water, 
and  only  comes  to  the  surface  and  visits  shallow  water  in 
the  spring.  A  characteristic  coloring,  omitted  in  all  descriptions 
-of  this  trout  that  I  have  seen,  is  a  broad  iridescent  band  in  the 
•center  of  the  tail,  and  extending  through  it  to  the  tip.  This  is 
most  beautiful,  composed  of  brilliant  metallic  hues  of  rainbow 
colors,  and  attracts  the  eye  immediately  as  the  fish  is  taken  from 
the  water.  The  line  of  demarcation  between  the  blue  of  the  back 
and  silver  of  the  sides  is  as  abruptly  drawn  and  sharply  indi- 
cated as  if  cut  with  a  knife.  Altogether  it  is  a  magnificent 
species."  (D.  G.  E.) 


Salmo  gardneri  crescentis    Jordan  &  Beardslee. 

Speckled  Trout  of  Lake  Crescent.      Eight  specimens. 


Feb.  1899. 


NORTH  AMERICAN  FISHES — MEEK. 


227 


Cat.  No. 

Length. 

Head. 

Depth. 

Eye. 

Snout. 

Maxillary 

Scales. 

Weight. 

2031.... 

"•35 

4.OO 

4-95 

5-20 

4.OO 

•75 

ISO 

X 

2O26  

i3-5o 

3-80 

4-35 

5.40 

4.20 

.85 

I56 

I 

2024  

14-95 

3-95 

5.10 

6.70 

3-90 

.81 

1  60 

K 

2025  

17.40 

3-95 

4-35 

6.75 

4.OO 

.81 

150 

2 

2O27  

17.85 

3-95 

4.20 

6.  10 

3-95 

.66 

162 

3 

2029  

22.30 

3-95 

4.80 

6.80 

3-5° 

•79 

I65 

\y* 

2034  .... 

22.70 

3-5o 

4.40 

8.00 

3-40 

.85 

162 

s 

2028  .... 

24.89 

3-5o 

4.  10 

8.00 

3.20 

•53 

1  60 

71A 

Our  specimens  agree  with  description  of  Jordan  &  Beardslee. 

"In  life  this  is  a  very  brilliantly  colored  fish,  possessing  many 
iridescent  hues,  and  brought  to  my  mind  in  its  general  appear- 
ance the  Weakfish  of  our  northern  salt  waters,  though  more  bril- 
liant but  without  the  bright-hued  fins.  The  operculum  is  opal- 
escent and  very  beautiful  in  its  bright  and  changeable  colors. 
This  species  will  take  a  fly  in  the  spring,  and  a  spoon  trolled  at  a 
depth  of  fifty  feet  or  more  in  later  seasons  of  the  year.  It  grows  to 
a  large  size,  one  obtained  weighing  eight  pounds,  but  it  has  been 
procured  weighing  much  more  than  that.  Exceedingly  gamey, 
it  battles  well  for  its  life,  whether  on  spoon  or  fly,  and  altogether 
is  one  of  the  finest  of  our  fresh-water  fish.  There  is  no  red 
under  lower  jaw,  so  conspicuous  a  mark  on  the  Lake  Souther- 
land  trout,  and  it  is  not  so  dark  on  the  head  and  back,  nor 
thickly  marked  with  black  spots  as  is  that  species."  (D.  G.  E.) 


Salmo  bathoecetor,  sp.  nov. 

Long-headed  Trout.     Two  specimens  from  Lake  Crescent, 


Diam- 

Total 

Maiill- 

Cat.  No. 

Length. 

Head. 

Depth. 

eter  of 
Kye. 

Snout. 

«7- 

Scales. 

Gill  Rakers. 

Branchiostegals. 

Dorsal. 

Anal. 

j  7+  13  right. 

9  right. 

2036 

17-05 

3-80 

5-75 

6.75 

3.33 

1.68 

152 

1  7  +  ii  left. 

10 

il 

10  left. 

I  8+    ?  right. 

10  right. 

2035 
Type 

21.10 

3-50 

5.10 

7.60 

3-33 

1.64 

150 

(  7+  12  left. 

10 

li 

ii  left. 

Body  elongate,  slender  ;  head  much  pointed  ;  anterior  margin* 
of  upper  jaw  slightly  above  axis  of  the  body  ;  maxillary  very 
long  and  very  slender,  reaching  considerably  beyond  posterior 


228  FIELD  COLUMBIAN  MUSEUM — ZOOLOGY,  VOL.    i. 

part  of  the  orbit,  its  greatest  width  7  in  its  length ;  about 
24  teeth  on  maxillary  ;  teeth  on  jaws  vomer  and  palatines  large, 
the  dentition  much  stronger  than  in  specimens  of  S.  g.  crescentis 
of  same  size  ;  maxillary  nearly  straight  in  the  larger  specimen, 
but  some  curved  in  smaller  specimen  ;  mandible  very  strong  ; 
opercle  very  broad  and  contains  the  eye  \y2  ;  preoperculum 
narrow,  less  than  diameter  of  the  eye  ;  gill  rakers  very  short 
and  thick  ;  last  ray  of  dorsal  less  than  half  longest  rays,  third  ray 
longer  than  base  of  fin  ;  when  depressed,  second  and  third  ray 
tips  reach  beyond  middle  of  last  dorsal  ray ;  pectorals,  if  in 
head  ;  ventral s,  2^.  Color  much  as  in  S.  g.  crescentis,  except 
lighter.  Head,  body,  and  tail  profusely  spotted  with  black 
spots  ;  ventrals  and  pectorals  dark.  No.  2036  has  fewer  spots, 
none  on  anal  and  pectorals.  The  anterior  part  of  upper  jaws 
very  dark,  darker  than  in  the  larger  specimen.  This  species 
differs  from  S.  g.  crescentis  in  being  much  more  slender,  its  back 
much  less  elevated,  head  more  slender  and  pointed,  gill  rakers 
shorter,  maxillary  straighter,  narrower,  and  longer.  The  general 
color  pattern  is  the  same,  except  that  this  species  is  less  spotted 
and  lighter.  No  red  on  the  under  jaw,  the  dentition  is  much 
stronger  in  this  species  than  in  crescentis. 

"This  is  a  deep  water  fish,  keeping  always  near  the  bottom. 
Lake  Crescent  is  of  great  depth,  in  some  places  over  seven  hun- 
dred feet,  and  doubtless  much  more  in  others  not  yet  ascer- 
tained. The  present  species,  unlike  other  trout,  does  not  come 
to  the  surface,  as  I  was  informed,  at  any  season  of  the  year, 
and  will  not  of  course  take  a  fly,  or  indeed  a  spoon,  or  any 
kind  of  lure.  The  only  way  it  can  be  captured  is  by  set  lines 
sunk  within  a  foot  of  the  bottom,  and  it  seems  that  there  are 
only  a  few  places  in  the  lake  where  it  can  be  caught  even  by 
this  means.  The  specimens  obtained  were  procured  at  a  depth 
of  about  two  hundred  feet.  While  it  is  a  brightly  colored  fish, 
it  lacks  some  of  the  iridescent  hues  of  .S".  g.  crescentis,  and  con- 
sequently is  less  attractive  in  appearance.  It  is  known  as  the 
long  nose,  or  long  headed  trout."  (D.  G.  E. ) 


Salmo  clarki  clarki     Richardson. 

One  specimen,  6.10  inches  in  length,  taken  in  Boulder  Creek, 
Washington. 


Feb.  1899. 


NORTH  AMERICAN  FISHES — MEEK. 


229 


Salmo  clarki  jordani,  var.  nov. 

Spotted  Trout  of  Lake  Southerland  : 

Twenty- three  specimens  ;  average  length,  14.87  inches;  head,  3.86  ;  depth. 
4.79;  eye,  5.89;  snout, 4. 13;  maxillary,  1.78;  scales,  146.1 ;  dorsal,  10;  anal,  n, 


Cat.  No. 

Length. 

Head. 

Depth. 

Eye. 

Snout. 

Maxillary 

Scales. 

2OOI  

11.30 

4.00 

4.80 

5-00 

4.60 

1.84 

146 

2018.... 

11.45 

3-85 

5.10 

5-40 

4-40 

1-75 

147 

2017  

11.45 

3.80 

4-55 

5.10 

4.20 

1.74 

146 

2002  

12.36 

3-85 

4.80 

5.90 

4.  10 

I.8I 

152 

2OOO  .... 

12.50 

3-65 

4.65 

5-25 

4.00 

i-75 

148 

2OO5  

I3-36 

3-80 

4.80 

5.60 

4.10 

1-83 

150 

20l6  

13-55 

3-80 

5.00 

5.70 

4.  10 

1.81 

143 

2003  

I3-65 

3-95 

4-65 

5.85 

4.25 

1.84 

154 

2014  

14.00 

4.  10 

4-95 

5.60 

4.00 

1.82 

146 

2004  

14.40 

3-8o 

4.60 

5-83 

4.00 

i.  80 

H7 

2020  

14.51 

3-8o 

4.80 

5.90 

3-90 

1.81 

150 

2007  

H-55 

4.00 

4.80 

5.50 

4.40 

1.77 

146 

2023  .... 

14-75 

3-90 

5.40 

6.50 

4.40 

1.83 

148 

2012  

14.85 

4.00 

4.60 

5-45 

4.00 

1.71 

150  Type 

2015  

15.05 

3-75 

4-45 

6.20 

3-95 

1.68 

135 

2013.... 

15.60 

4-35 

4.70 

5.40 

4-3° 

1.82 

148 

2022  

15.85 

3-95 

4-75 

6.00 

4.20 

1.77 

145 

2OO9  

16.85 

3  95 

4.50 

5.65 

3-8o 

1.85 

147 

2OI9  

16.90 

3.80 

5.25 

6.20 

3-75 

1.82 

140 

2OIO  

17.50 

3-95 

5.10 

6.50 

4.60 

i.  80 

M5 

2008  

17-  8p 

3-95 

5.40 

6.50 

4-45 

1.81 

148 

2OII  

19.65 

3.80 

4-25 

7.00 

3-50 

1-73 

138 

2021  

20.30 

3-15 

4-43 

7.50 

4.00 

1-74 

142 

Average  .  .  . 

14.87 

3-86 

4-79 

5.89 

4-13 

1.78 

146.1 

Body  elongate,  not  much  compressed  ;  head  short,  maxillary 
not  extending  far  behind  orbit ;  maxillary  rather  broad  ;  its  great- 
est width,  4^  in  its  length,  in  some  specimens  about  5^,  a  slight 
curve  downward  under  the  eye ;  dentition  not  so  strong  as  in 
the  speckled  trout  of  Lake  Crescent ;  gill  rakers  rather  long, 
longer  than  in  the  speckled  trout,  but  less  so  than  in  Blue  Back 
of  Lake  Crescent;  pectoral  in  head,  1.88;  ventrals,  2.24;  origin 
of  dorsal,  midway  between  tip  of  snout  and  base  of  caudal, 
or  slightly  nearer  tip  of  snout ;  origin  of  ventrals,  under  first 
to  third  dorsal  rays;  margin  of  dorsal  fin,  convex;  base,  1.32 
in  longest  ray  ;  snout  bluntish.  D.  10,  A.  n.  Branchiostegals, 
10  or  ii  ;  usually  10  on  one  side,  n  on  the  other. 

Color  in  alcohol,  dark  steel  blue  above,  paler  below,  becoming 


230  FIELD  COLUMBIAN  MUSEUM — ZOOLOGY,  VOL.   i. 

nearly  white  on  the  belly.  Back  sides  and  head  profusely  spotted 
with  black.  Some  specimens  have  black  spots  on  the  belly  and 
on  all  fins.  Usually  the  pectorals  and  ventrals  are  without  spots. 
Upper  half  of  lower  jaw  black,  red  under  dentary  bones.  The 
life  colors  are  given  below  by  Professor  Elliot. 

Named  for  Dr.  D.  S.  Jordan,  President  of  Stanford  University, 
who,  more  than  anyone  else,  has  studied  our  western  trout. 

"This  beautiful  species  is  exceedingly  gamey,  takes  a  fly  read- 
ily even  as  late  as  October,  is  a  great  leaper  when  hooked,  and 
fights  a  F entrance.  In  appearance  it  resembles  S.  g.  crescentis  of 
the  neighboring  lake,  being  fully  as  brilliantly  colored,  but  can 
be  at  once  distinguished  by  its  orange  or  orange-red  fins,  red 
on  the  jaw,  and  the  number  and  blackness  of  its  spots,  and 
darker  back  and  top  of  head.  In  general  appearance  there 
is  not  the  slightest  similarity  between  this  species  and  the  speci- 
men from  Boulder  Creek.  At  no  stage  of  its  existence  that  I  have 
seen,  from  fingerlings  to  fish  weighing  over  four  pounds,  is  there 
any  silvery  luster,  but  the  colors  are  all  bright  hued,  some  even 
metallic.  It  is  one  of  the  most  active  of  its  tribe,  and  I  have 
had  them  leap  after  taking  the  fly  in  such  quick  succession,  and 
with  such  rapid  dartings  about  the  lake,  that  it  was  impossible 
to  imagine  where  they  would  next  appear.  I  believe  it  spawns 
in  the  spring,  as  in  the  middle  of  October,  when  I  left  Lake 
Southerland,  the  eggs  of  the  females  we  caught  were  not  enlarged, 
and  no  indication  of  the  approach  of  the  spawning  season." 
(D.  G.  E.) 


Salmo  clarki  declivifrons,  var.  nov. 

Salmon  Trout  of  Lake  Southerland.  One  specimen  from  Lake 
Southerland. 

Cat.  No.  2006.  Total  length,  9. 64  inches;  head,  3^;  depth, 
4^ ;  eye,  5-*-  in  head;  snout,  4^;  mixillary,  i£ ;  scales,  148; 
dorsal,  10  ;  anal,  u  ;  branchiostegals,  10;  gill  rakers,  7+  10. 

Body  elongate,  back  elevated,  anterior  profile  much  decurved, 
especially  so  from  nape  forward.  Tip  of  snout  below  axil  of  the 
body ;  margin  of  the  upper  lip  on  a  level  with  lower  margin  of  the 
orbit ;  gape  of  mouth  nearly  horizontal,  more  so  than  in  other 
trout ;  maxillary  broad,  its  greatest  width  5  in  its  length,  its  pos- 
terior border  reaching  beyond  eye  ;  dentition  strong  ;  posterior 
margin  of  dorsal  fin  straight ;  when  the  fin  is  depressed  the  tip 


Feb.  1899.  NORTH  AMERICAN  FISHES — MEEK.  231 

of  second  ray  reaching  middle  of  last  ray  ;  last  ray,  2^  in  longest 
ray  ;  pectorals,  i|  in  head  ;  ventrals,  2^. 

Color  dark  blue  above  and  on  sides  to  lateral  line  anteriorly, 
and  to  a  short  distance  above  lateral  line  posteriorly,  then  becom- 
ing abruptly  silvery ;  belly  nearly  white,  no  spots  on  head  or 
body,  none  on  any  of  the  fins,  except  a  few  on  caudal  fin  ;  upper 
margin  of  lower  jaw  black,  a  dark  blue  patch  on  cheek,  extending 
obliquely  upward  and  backward  to  near  top  of  opercle  ;  pectorals, 
ventrals,  and  anal  yellowish. 

The  general  color  of  this  specimen  much  resembles  the  Blue 
Back  of  Lake  Crescent.  It  is  some  darker,  has  no  spots,  except 
on  caudal  fin,  and  the  upper  anterior  profile  is  much  more  curved. 

"This  trout  is  occasionally  taken  in  Lake  Southerland,  and 
is  called  the  'Salmon  trout.'  It  is  easily  recognizable,  not  only 
by  the  sharply  curved  upper  outline  of  the  fore  part  of  the  body, 
but  also  by  its  quite  different  style  of  coloration,  resembling, 
as  stated  above,  somewhat  the  style  of  the  Blue  Back  of  Lake 
Crescent.  As  there  is  no  water  connection  between  these  lakes, 
and  Lake  Southerland  is  seventy-five  feet  lower  than  Crescent, 
and,  moreover,  the  fish  of  that  lake  have  no  communication  with 
the  sea,  on  account  of  a  very  high  precipitous  fall  a  short  distance 
from  its  outlet,  it  cannot  be  supposed  that  these  two  forms  are 
in  any  way  identical.  Out  of  a  large  number  of  trout  taken  by 
me  in  Lake  Southerland,  only  two  or  three  specimens  of  this 
form  were  procured,  and  they  were  all  of  small  size,  and  I  did 
not  understand  that  it  was  ever  obtained  of  much  greater  dimen- 
sions than  those  given  above.  This  could  not  be  the  fault  of  the 
lake,  which  is  exceedingly  deep,  and  nearly  three  miles  in  length. 

It  is  a  gamey  fish,  takes  the  fly,  leaps  out  of  water,  and 
is  a  good  fighter  for  its  size."  (D.  G.  E.) 

Cottus  asper  Richardson. 

Bull  head  from  Lake  Southerland. 

Six  specimens,  ranging  in  length  from  5.5  inches  to  7.4  inches  ; 
skin  smooth,  except  a  few  prickles  along  lateral  and  under  pec- 
toral fin  ;  vent  nearer  base  of  caudal  (midway  between  eye  and 
base  of  caudal)  than  tip  of  snout. 

Hemilepidotus  hemilepidotus  Tilesius. 
One  specimen  from  Port  Angeles. 


232  FIELD  COLUMBIAN  MUSEUM — ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  i. 

Podothecus  acipenserinus  Tilesius. 

One  specimen,  7^  inches  in  length,  from  Port  Angeles,  Wash. ; 
caught  in  the  harbor. 

AMPHIBIA. 
Plethodon  intermedius  Baird. 

Three  specimens,  4^,  2^,  2%  inches  in  length  respectively. 
The  larger  specimen  has  the  dorsal  band  well  developed  ;  this 
band  belongs  to  the  epidermis,  and  disappears  with  its  loss, 
barely  leaving  a  trace.  In  life  this  band  was  yellow.  In  addition 
to  the  three  adult  specimens,  several  larval  forms  were  taken. 

"  Salamanders  were  quite  plentiful  in  this  lake,  which  is  a  small 
body  of  water  situated  above  altitude  of  about  5,000  feet,  and 
which  flows  into  Fuca  Straits  by  devious  ways  not  always  com- 
mendable or  satisfactory,  especially  should  one  desire  to  follow 
them.  This  little  creature  when  taken  from  the  water  appeared 
to  be  about  the  consistency  of  jelly,  and  threatened  to  disappear 
entirely  when  handled,  but  fortunately  hardened  in  formalin. 
They  were  quite  abundant  in  certain  places  near  the  shore  where 
a  brook  flowed  into  the  lake,  and  generally  rested  motionless 
on  the  bottom,  from  which  we  seized  them  with  our  hands. 
When  disturbed,  they  scurried  rapidly  along,  and  either  dis- 
appeared in  cloudy  water,  caused  by  the  mud  put  into  motion 
by  their  movements,  or  else  by  burying  themselves  under  stones 
or  debris  of  various  material  lying  on  the  bottom."  (D.  G.  E.). 

Rana  agilis  aurora  B.  &  G. 

One  specimen,  3.28  inches  in  length. 

Heel  reaching  to  center  of  the  orbit,  black  ear  patch  indistinct. 

Rana  temporaria  pretiosa  B.  &  G. 

Nine  specimens,  Happy  Lake,  Wash.;  5,000  feet.  These  speci- 
mens vary  much  in  coloration. 

a.  Length,   2.11  inches;  no  black  blotches,   a  few  warty  protuber- 
ances on  back  and  sides  ;  light  stripe  on  margin  of  upper  jaw, 
which  extends  back  to  arm  ;  brownish  ear  patch  and  a  brown 
stripe  forward  from  each  eye  ;  bottom  of  feet  and  buttocks  granu- 
lated ;  belly  plain,  no  dark  mottlings  under  the  head. 

b.  Length,  2.29  inches  ;  color  as  in  a,  with  a  few  small  inky  blotches 
on  back  ;  faint  brownish  bands  on  tibia  and  foot. 


Feb.  1899.          NORTH  AMERICAN  AMPHIBIANS — MEEK.  233 

c.  2.04  ;  color  same  as  b,  only  one  faint  ink  spot  on  right  side  ;  back 
nearly  smooth  ;  sides  with  more  warts  than  on  a  and  b. 

d.  2.15  inches  in  length  ;  same  color  as  preceding,  except  the  back 
and  top  of  head  has  many  black  blotches,  some  as  large  as  pupil  ; 
under  parts  a  little  lighter  than  in  preceding  ;  brown  cross  bars 
on  legs  very  faint. 

e.  1.93  inches  in  length  ;  darker  than  in  preceding  ;  a  few  very  small 
dark  blotches  or  dots  on  back ;  under  surface  plain ;  cross  bars 
on  legs  more  distinct  than  in  preceding ;   warty  protuberances 
on  back  and  sides. 

f.  2.15  inches  in  length  ;  color  same  as  d,  except  much  darker,  and 
brown  marblings  on   under  surface   of   the  head ;   bars  on  legs 
moderately  distinct. 

g.  1.95;   color  same   as   e,    except  slightly  darker;   buttocks   dark 
brownish,  much   speckled  with  white  ;  sides  darker  than  back  ; 
lower  part  of  sides  much  mottled  with  white  ;  under  surface  of 
head  white  ;  warty  as  in  preceding. 

h.  2.15  inches  in  length;  much  darker  than  any  of  the  preceding  ; 
black  blotches  on  back  and  upper  part  of  sides  ;  under  surface 
of  head  and  breast  mottled  with  darker  ;  cross  bars  on  the  legs 
not  plain. 

/'.  2.45  inches  in  length.  This  specimen  is  darker  than  any  of  the 
preceding ;  under  surface  of  head  much  mottled  with  blackish. 

Size  seems  to  have  little  or  no  relation  with  color,  as  shown 
by  these  specimens.  The  largest  is  the  darkest ;  h  and  d  are 
same  size,  and  present  nearly  opposite  degrees  of  coloration, 
while  f  of  same  size  is  intermediate  between  the  two.  These 
specimens  would  suggest  at  least  a  darker  coloration,  with 
increase  of  size,  a  condition  quite  the  opposite  of  that  recorded 
by  Dr.  Test.* 

"This  frog  was  first  found  in  Happy  Lake  itself,  but  after- 
wards in  greater  numbers  in  small,  shallow  water  holes  in  swampy 
ground,  about  a  mile  from  the  lake.  It  seemed  to  be  the  only 
species  in  the  vicinity."  (D.  G.  E.) 

Bufo  columbiensis  B.  &  G. 

One  specimen;  body,  3.6  inches  in  length;  belly  profusely 
spotted  with  black  ;  vertebral  line  very  distinct. 

"This  curious  frog-like  toad  was  captured  in  the  road  about 

*  Bull.  U.  S.  Fish  Com.,  1891-51. 


234 


FIELD  COLUMBIAN  MUSEUM — ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  i. 


a  mile  from  the  banks  of  the  Elwah  river,  and  some  seven  miles 
from  Port  Angeles.  Unlike  the  generality  of  toads,  it  takes 
readily  to  the  water,  in  which  its  long,  slender,  webbed,  frog-like 
hind  feet  are  admirably  adapted.  It  grows  to  a  large  size, 
and  the  bold  markings  of  the  belly  make  it  a  very  conspicuous 
object."  (D.  G.  E.) 


REPTILIA. 
Thamnophis  pickeringi  B.  &  G. 


UPPER 

LOWER 

Cat.  Ho. 

Total 

Length. 

Length 
of 
Body. 

Length 
of 
Tail. 

SCALES. 

LABIALS. 

Labials 
Entering 
Eye. 

LABIALS. 

Preor- 
b.tals. 

Postor- 

bitals. 

Tempo- 
rals. 

Right. 

Left. 

Right. 

Left. 

4-7 

18.55 

14.12 

4-43 

19,  165,  80 

7 

7 

3&4 

10 

10 

i 

3 

1—2 

488 

! 

11.87 

? 

19.155,     ? 

8 

0 

4&5 

9 

10 

i 

3 

1—2 

489 

23-89 

18.70 

6.19 

19,  166,  81 

8 

8 

4&5 

10 

9 

i 

3 

1—2 

Preorbital  retains  its  width  to  middle  of  orbit,  then  slightly 
narrows  ;  middle  postorbital  slightly  the  larger.  No.  489  has  a 
small  scale  just  behind  lower  and  middle  postorbital,  evidently 
a  part  of  first  temporal ;  head  is  fairly  well  differentiated  from 
the  body  ;  lower  row  of  scales  on  each  side  larger  than  on  second, 
especially  on  middle  portion  of  the  body,  only  a  few  being 
slightly  carinated  ;  most  of  the  scales  on  tail  carinated. 

Color  in  alcohol,  dark  greenish  above,  bluish  below  ;  a  dorsal 
bluish  band  covers  one,  and  half  of  two  other  rows  of  scales;  lateral 
stripe  on  2d  and  lower  half  of  3d  row  of  scales.  These  three 
stripes  less  prominent  on  the  posterior  part  of  the  body,  and 
disappear  on  the  anterior  half  of  the  tail.  About  76  orange  bars 
on  body,  which  do  not  extend  on  the  tail ;  these  bars  are  irregular, 
about  one  scale  wide,  and  on  3d,  4th,  5th,  and  6th  rows  of  scales. 
Very  few  can  be  seen  on  No.  489.  No  stripe  behind  the  eye,  and 
no  black  spots  on  the  body  ;  belly  not  marbled  with  darker. 

"Snakes  are  not  common  in  the  Olympic  Mountains,  and  no 
poisonous  species  is  found  there.  The  specimens  given  in  this 
paper  are  all  the  species  we  saw,  and  were  taken  at  various 
heights  —  from  500  to  5,000  feet  —  and  it  is  probable  that  they 
represent  all  that  inhabit  at  least  that  portion  of  the  range  ex- 
plored by  myself  and  party."  (D.  G.  E.) 


Feb.  1899.  NORTH  AMERICAN  REPTILES — MEEK.  235 

Thamnophis  leptocephala  olympia,  var.  nov. 

One  specimen,  Cat.  No.  486;  total  length,  21.84  inches; 
body,  16.15;  tail,  5.09;  scales,  17  rows;  gasterosteges,  144  ;  uros- 
teges,  56  ;  one  preocular  ;  three  postoculars,  the  middle  one  the 
larger  ;  7  upper  labials,  the  3d  and  4th  entering  the  eye,  the  5th  the 
largest ;  9  lower  labials,  the  5th  the  largest ;  temporals,  1-2  ;  length 
of  frontal  equals  its  distance  from  the  rostral ;  rostral  broader 
than  deep,  only  its  tip  seen  from  above  ;  the  suture  between  the 
prefrontals  extends  to  middle  of  the  frontal.  The  preorbital  is 
broadest  at  upper  part  of  orbit,  and  narrows  downward.  Scales 
on  the  body  carinated,  except  the  lower  row  on  each  side,  which 
have  only  a  few  scales  faintly  carinated.  Scales  of  the  outer 
rows  very  little  larger  than  on  second  rows  on  anterior  and  pos- 
terior parts  of  the  body,  the  difference  being  greater  on  the 
middle  of  the  body.  Head  rather  small,  and  not  very  distinct 
from  the  body.  Nearly  all  of  the  scales  of  the  tail  carinated, 
only  those  of  lower  row,  and  most  on  last  third  of  tail  not  keeled  ; 
color  in  alcohol,  a  dark  green,  no  light  dorsal  or  lateral  stripes  ; 
head,  same  color  of  the  body.  A  dark  stripe  from  eye,  back  on 
4th  and  5th  rows  of  scales  ;  this  band  breaks  into  small  irregular 
spots,  which  are  scarcely  traceable  on  sides,  only  a  short  dis- 
tance. Very  little  black  appears  on  the  scales,  except  near  the 
head.  A  few  scales  on  sides  have  dark  edges  ;  belly  uniformly 
greenish,  anteriorly,  becoming  marbled,  with  small  dark  spots, 
posteriorly  ;  these  dark  spots  disappear  on  under  surface  of  pos- 
terior half  of  tail. 

This  variety  differs  from  Thamnophis  leptocephala,  in  having  one 
preorbital,  most  of  the  scales  on  the  tail  keeled,  no  small 
dark  spots  in  a  series  from  head  to  tail.  The  scales  are  in 
17  rows ;  there  are  no  dorsal  or  lateral  stripes. 


Thamnophis  rubristriata  sp.  nov. 

One  specimen,  Cat.  No.  485  ;  total  length,  20.62  inches;  body, 
15.37  ;  tail,  5.25  ;  scales,  17, 151,  67  ;  preoculars,  2  ;  postoculars,  3  ; 
the  postoculars  subequal  in  size,  middle  one  slightly  larger ;  upper 
labials,  right  side,  8  ;  left,  7 ;  the  second  and  third  on  right  side 
corresponds  to  second  on  left;  the  one  articulating  with  lower 
postorbital,  the  larger;  frontal  equals  its  distance  from  tip  of 
snout;  temporals,  1-2;  lower  row  of  scales  on  each  side  the  larger, 
few  near  middle  of  the  body  being  slightly  keeled.  The  difference 


236  FIELD  COLUMBIAN  MUSEUM — ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  i 

in  size  between  the  lower  row  of  scales  and  second  is  more  pro- 
nounced in  middle  of  body.  Most  of  the  scales  on  tail  keeled ; 
those  of  the  lower  row  as  well  as  most  on  the  last  fourth  smooth. 

Ground  color,  light  greenish  below  ;  dark  above ;  in  life,  under 
surface  red ;  a  broad,  red  dorsal  band  covering  nearly  three  rows 
of  scales ;  most  of  the  scales  on  the  sides  with  small  red  dots 
on  upper  and  lower  edge  of  each  scale,  the  intervening  spaces 
black  ;  a  dark  stripe  behind  eye,  which  extends  a  short  distance 
on  fifth  row  of  scales,  and  then  breaks  up  and  disappears  a  short 
distance  from  head  ;  a  lateral  greenish  stripe  on  second  and 
third  rows  of  scales,  this  narrows  to  the  second  and  half 
of  third  row  near  end  of  body,  and  disappears  on  anterior  portion 
of  the  tail.  In  life,  the  posterior  part  of  the  body,  and  most  of  the 
anterior  is  bright  red  ;  anterior  border  of  most  of  the  gaster- 
osteges  black  on  lateral  portions  only ;  belly  not  marbled  after 
the  red  has  faded ;  small  yellow  dots  between  parietals. 

This  species  has  the  general  build  and  appearance  of  the  pre- 
ceding. It,  however,  has  two  preorbitals  and  dorsal  and  lateral 
stripes,  which,  with  the  bright  red  on  belly,  back  and  sides, 
becoming  more  intense  posteriorly,  are  its  chief  distinguishing 
characteristics. 


X 

, r  * 


V*-C 
SCtv 


UNIVE 


Illiilini''"'*'     '      /\fcd"\*7 


